Since 2011, Colin has been involved with Cobscook Institute as a program participant, leader, and partner. He became familiar with us early on by guiding intergenerational Road Scholar trips based on campus, then co-led an outdoor adventure club. For the last eight years, he has been a key volunteer for the Downeast Spring Birding Festival, including serving on the planning committee.

A particular Cobscook highlight for Colin came last year after he and his wife Laura, daughter Nora, and one-week old son Jamie picked a few bushels of apples near their home in Pembroke. They came to use our cider press for the afternoon, ultimately making gallons of cider and apple cider vinegar.

“I would love to see more opportunities like that at Cobscook Institute,” Colin said. “Shared community ‘stuff’ and spaces for creating things and learning cooperatively.” He also spoke highly of the value of the high school program and a hope for that model to extend into middle and elementary school options as well. Colin’s a dreamer with lots of great ideas, but if he had to pick one thing, he said, “Someday at Cobscook Institute, I would love to see more outdoor music offerings on the beautiful stage. Milbridge, Machias, and Eastport all have success with outdoor concerts, Cobscook Institute could too!” Seven-year-old Nora chimed in, “Someday I want to play on the stage at Cobscook!”